Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-01-06
PINKERTON's WORK.
Details Of the Chase After Ex-
press Robbers.
A Story That Reads Like a Romance
"Jim Cummings" as Letter.
Writer-Evidence OBJ
tanned.

CHICAGO, Dec 28.-The complete details
OF the chase after the Adams Express rob-
bers, who rified a safe Oh the st. Louis &
San Francisco road on the night of October 5
OF from S55, 000to $50 COO were related by the
officers of the Pinkerton National Detective
Agency for the first time IA3J night to
representative of the Associated Press.
The agency has succeeded in asresting five
men, named Frederick Whitrock, who is
the author Of the ''Jim Cummings letters,
and who is claimed to be the man who per-
petrated the robbery; w. W. Haight, an
ex-employe of the express company, who
is supposed to have aided in planning
the robbery from his knowledge of
the railroad ''run"; Thomas Weaver, a
Chicago lauEdryman, who was with Whit
rock before and after the robbery; Edward
Kinney, a brother-ln-law OF w hitrock upon
whose person was found a considerable por-
ton OF the express money; and Oscar Cook,
who was with Whitrock after the robbery
and afterward divided the money and mailed
the Jim Cummings letters. The detec
tives have recovered aboIt $4,000 and esti-
mate that from 1000 to S45, 900 is still
accounted for. The story of the chase has
all the dash of a romance about it, and GER
tain features would be regarded as improb-
able in a fiction. The express car On the
St Louis q San Francisco road was rified
on the night of October 25 and the
express messenger, David S. Fother-
ingham, when discovered by the train
hands, was bound and gagged in the car.
He explained that he had admitted man
into the car who presented a letter from
John b. Ba7rett, route agent of the express
company, the letter explaining that the man
was to be employed by the company, and
was to be given an opportunity to learn the
business. While on the run the stranger
presented a revolver, bound and gagged
him and then carried off all the money ia
the safe. The robbery occurred at Pacific
Junction, about thirty-six miles from st.
Louis.
TEE CHASE.
The Pinkerton agency sent operatives in
all directions and the wagon roads running
from Pacific JSnction, toward the Missouri
river were traversed, but only a meager
trace was found OF any one, and the Officials
when they returned toe st. Louis were c0n-
pletely at sea. In the meantime letter
was addressed by jim Cummings to the
Globe Democrat of st. Louis, based on which
the Pinkertons claim to have comprised the
arrest and fixed the crane Of all the partici-
pants.
In the meantime the detectives had OBJ
tanned the names of all persons discharged
or who had voluntarily left the employ of
the express company during the preceding
year, and found among them w. w Halght,
who had been discharged nine mouths
previous for Suspected theft of packages
This man had been a messenger ON the road
from st. LcaIis to Vinita, 1. T., covering the
same run was made by Fotheringhan.
The detectives found that ne and
Fotheringham had known each ether
in Kansas Cdty, but there had been init
macy. Haight was traced to Kansas City
and from there to Leavenworth, where his
father was am inmate of the home for, dis
abled soldiers. From Leavenworth it was
learned that Haight had come to Chicago
where he had been employed as ap express
n ,alo hi
rock, the mysterious Jim Cummings who
was operating coal yardeat the CORNER OF
Lincoln and West Lake streets.
Haight left the city October "a, tive days
after the robbery, stating that he was
going to Florida, and his wife followed him
some days later. They had been very poer,
but showed evidences Of sudden affiusnce
immediately after the robbery.
GNvEsTIGArING.
The investigation by the detectives in
Chicago showed that Whitrock had also
come from Leavenworth and as ne was
absent from the city he would not be s.les-
toned concerning Haight When the in
quiry was pursued respecting Whitrock, it
was found that he correspondent closely to
the description given of the mysterious
Jim Cummings. Further cautious inquiries
showed that Whitrock had left the city
October IL with Sam Weaver, the Laundry
man, whose place of business is 733 West
Whfrock's coal yard. 1t was also learned
that the men had taken with them two
valises, shot gun and & musket and <1-
planned that they were going to Arkansas
to hunt. Weaver, 1T was ascertained, had
returned to Chicago October p. @
Some of the handwriting of Whitrock was
obtained and submitted to the man ySho was
passing judgment on the letter addressed to
the be-Deraocrda The detectives state
that this letter, which was written to exculal
pate Fotheringham, iprofessed to tell the
facts leading up to the robbery. In this
Jim Cummings explained that he had left a
package in the Union Depot at St Louis
which would shew that he had number of
Hhe letter heads of theexpress company and
An this letter the writer said he had'eyone to
the Missouri river to a point opposite Laba-
die and taken skif below ST. Charles and
Apated down the river.
Detectives were sent to st. Charles and
found that two men answering the descrip-
tion of WhitrocS and Weaver had bought
slSiff and provisions and gone up instead
of down the river on OctGber II. The skiff
was afterwards found in a gully partially
covered with sand.
EVIDENCE OBTAINED.
In the bundle JS1n Cummings spoke OF as
having been left at the Union Depot in id-
ditioEl to other articles Were some printed
ballads and on one of these twas found the
address, 2f0S Chestnut street, but whichs
was TN " dlScernlbbS under a microscope At
this number was found to be living woman
mai red Mrs. Berry, Etho related that she had
hao two roopers WIN correspoEded to Whit
rocx and Weaver. They had come to her
house October IS and Weaver departed on
the night of October %, saying he was going
to Kansas City, while Whltrocsz had left
the evening of October %. explaining that
he also intended to so To Kansas City. Mrs. J
Berry was able to give close description
Of both men Searching the ROOMS they
had occupied two red stamps were found
which corresponded to the labels placed on